Special Education Enhancement Fund (SEEF) Competitive Grant - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

July 11, 2017 and July 12, 2017 Jonathan Elkin

Special Education Enhancement Fund (SEEF) Competitive Grant

Application Webinar

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Agenda

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• Welcome and Introductions
• Overview of Application
• Application Components
• Q&A
• Next Steps

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Overview of Application

Background and Purpose The DC Special Education Quality Improvement Amendment Act of 2014 is designed to improve academic outcomes, graduation rates, and post-secondary success for DC students with disabilities. Successful applicants will:

• Demonstrate the need for their project using relevant data;
• Specifically identify the measurable impact of their project; and
• Identify the evidence-based practices that will be utilized to achieve the intended

results.

Purpose of Funds

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Funding Availability and Funding Period A total of $1,500,000 is available for awards through this grant award period, which will begin on Oct. 1, 2017 and end on Sept. 30, 2018. The maximum award is $500,000 per applicant annually per award. OSSE will provide this year’s awardees with additional continuation funding in future years, up to an additional $500,000 per applicant per year for each of two additional years, subject to availability of continued funding. Awards are limited to one per applicant. Eligibility Eligible applicants include:

• LEAs currently serving students in the 2016-17 school year, including early

childhood and adult education charter LEAs.

• Third-party nonprofit organizations which demonstrate a partnership with one or

more LEAs and submit a signed Partnership Agreement demonstrating each partner’s role.

Funding Availability and Eligibility

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Permissible Use of Funds

All costs must:

 Support projects that address needs identified within the needs assessment conducted;  Support projects that are linked to evidence-based research and have been shown to increase academic achievement; and  Support projects that apply promising practices to increase academic achievement.

Project Priorities – The most competitive applicants will meet both priorities:

1. Demonstrate the project’s ability to support the creation of a continuum of public placements and build capacity to serve students in the least restrictive environment, in accordance with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title 34

• f the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 300.114.

2. Demonstrate the project’s ability to improve graduation, secondary transition, and post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities.

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Cost Requirements

Funds are available strictly on a reimbursement basis and may only be used for allowable grant project expenditures during the grant period.

Non-Allowable Expenses

Costs that do not align with the strategies outlined in the application. Costs that do not meet the purpose of this grant. Unallowable costs per government guidelines.

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Schedule and Key Dates

Friday, June 16, 2017 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published in DC Register Monday July 3 Request for Applications (RFA) release and application available in EGMS Tuesday, July 11 Wednesday, July 12 Required webinars (Each applicant must attend one – separate from SEEF Formula) July 12, 5 p.m. Intent to Apply due: Jonathan.Elkin@dc.gov Tuesday, Aug. 15, 3 p.m. Application submission deadline in EGMS

**Start early! This deadline remains in effect unless a systemic EGMS technical challenge is identified that affects all users.

August - September Review and scoring by independent grant readers September Awards announced

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• OSSE will conduct a preliminary review to ensure all

applicants meet basic requirements.

• OSSE will forward each satisfactory application to a panel of

multiple independent, qualified professional reviewers.

• Reviewers will review, provide scores on the rubric, and

submit comments.

• OSSE will select awardees based on reviewers’ scores.
• Each awarded applicant will receive a grant award notification

(GAN) in EGMS.

• All awards will be reviewed for compliance with programmatic

and fiscal requirements, could be subject to corrective action.

• See the RFA for more details on Confidentiality, Terms and

Conditions, Conflict of Interest, and Assurances.

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Award Administration

Application Components

• Overview Pages and Scoring Rubric (informational; nothing to complete)
• Contact Information
• Brief Project Description
• Needs Assessment and Narrative
• Priority Points
• Detailed Planning Expenditures
• Supporting Documentation (optional)
• Assurances
• Submit (application is not complete until it is submitted through this tab)
• Application Print (hard copies or PDF of applications may be printed

through this tab)

• Application History (the history of who has accessed and modified the

application may be viewed through this tab) We will review these sections later in the webinar.

Application Sections

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Overview Pages and Scoring Rubric

Rubric Section Point Value Needs Assessment 20 Project Description 10 Theory of Action 10 Logic Model 10 Overall Needs Assessment and Narrative 20 Budget 20 Priority Points (Applicants should meet both) 10 Total Points Possible 100

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Rubric Details

Score Not Assignable Limited/ Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional No response

• r information/

information doesn’t answer prompt question Attempts to answer prompt Mostly answers prompt Fully answers prompt Answers prompt in depth; reviewer has no questions Information, if provided, is unclear or hard to understand Missing a lot of requested information/ unclear Missing some of requested information/ mostly clear All requested information provided/ clear All requested information provided/ clear, highly focused, coherently integrated answers Inappropriate answer Appropriate answer with limited details Appropriate answer with details; answer is not well expressed Appropriate answer with details; answer is well expressed Appropriate, well- articulated answer that is extremely detailed and shows a clear and relevant path to success Strongly disagree Disagree Slightly agree Agree Strongly agree

Reviewers will score each section using the following definitions:

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Rubric Details

Needs Assessment (20): Score Not Assignable Limited / Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional 1. The applicant gave a clear description of the data used to assess need. 2.5 5 7.5 10 2. There is a clear link between the data used and the need described. 2.5 5 7.5 10 Project Description (10): Score Not Assignable Limited / Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional 1. There is a clear link between need(s) and the project. 1.25 2.5 3.75 5 2. The project is clearly described and core activities are likely to produce intended

• utcomes.

1.25 2.5 3.75 5

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Rubric Details

Theory of Action (10): Score Not Assignable Limited / Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional 1. The if-then-because statement clearly shows how and why the project will be successful. 1.25 2.5 3.75 5 2. The success of the project is based on credible and recent (within the last five years) research and/or demonstrated success. 1.25 2.5 3.75 5 Logic Model (10): Score Not Assignable Limited / Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional 1. All elements of the logic models (Inputs, Activities, Outcomes, Outputs, and Measurements/ Tools) are well-defined. 1.5 3 4.5 6 2. The outcomes and outputs are feasible within a two-year timeline. 0.5 1 1.5 2 3. The logic models demonstrate a clear overview

• f the described project.

0.5 1 1.5 2

Rubric Details

Overall Needs Assessment and Narrative (20) Score Not Assignable Limited / Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional 1. The overall project is well thought-out. 1.25 2.5 3.75 5 2. The project is likely to be successful in rapidly raising student achievement. 2.5 5 7.5 10 3. The project is designed to ensure that gains are sustainable after the grant ends. 1.25 2.5 3.75 5

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Rubric Details

Budget (20): Score Not Assignable Limited / Weak Fair Good Strong/ Exceptional 1. Costs seem allowable (necessary to the project, allocable, and reasonable). 2 4 6 8 2. Budget line items and summary of costs align with the described project. 2 4 6 8 3. Proposed budget can reasonably be expended within the grant period. 1 2 3 4

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• Head of school
• Grants contact
• Fiscal contact
• Application contact (if different from grants contact)

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Contact Information

*** Note: Save frequently in EGMS, because the site times out with inactivity

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Brief Project Description

*** Note: Save frequently in EGMS, because the site times out with inactivity

Needs Assessment

• 1. Indicate the data sources used to perform the needs assessment (quantitative and

qualitative data).

• 2. Substantiate the need for the proposed project. Link the need for the project to

data checked above. Clearly describe your needs and how the specific project will add to providing high-quality education to students in high-need areas. Provide any data that will justify the need for the project.

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Needs Assessment and Narrative

Project Description and Theory of Action

• 1. Briefly describe the proposed project and activities. Activities must be research-

based and enhance quality programming. There should be a clear link to the needs assessment.

• 2. Theory of Action: Describe how and why your project will work and provide the

strategic thinking behind the change you seek to produce by using an if, then/because statement. The theory of action must include research and evidence

• f success.

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Needs Assessment and Narrative

Logic Model - Complete and upload at least one logic model

• Goals must be Strategic, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely (SMART)
• For detailed tips on logic models and education examples, visit: OSSE and Regional Ed Lab

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Needs Assessment and Narrative

Select one or both priorities and include the narrative description. Competitive applicants will complete both priorities. Priority 1: Describe how and why your project will support the creation of a continuum

• f public placements and build capacity to serve students in the least restrictive

environment, in accordance with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) CFR Section 300.114. Priority 2: Describe how the project will improve graduation, secondary transition, and post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities.

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Priority Points

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Detailed Planning Expenditures

Summarize the planned uses of funds for all activities. All costs must:

• Support projects that address needs identified within the needs assessment
• Support projects that are linked to evidence-based research and have been shown to

increase academic achievement; and

• Support projects that apply promising practices to increase academic achievement.

Based on a review of available data, OSSE is prioritizing applications which:

• Demonstrate the project’s ability to support the creation of a continuum of public

placements and build capacity to serve students in the least restrictive environment, in accordance with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 300.114.

• Demonstrate the project’s ability to improve graduation, secondary transition, and

post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities.

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Detailed Planning Expenditures

Within each Budget Category sub-tab, enter the type of expenditure in each program category (if applicable). Click the description for details. Note that your Third Party/ LEA must budget at the overall Third Party/ LEA level, but you may decide how to allocate funds to separate school sites.

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Detailed Planning Expenditures

(sub-tabs in EGMS)

(program categories within each sub-tab )

Budget guidance document with Definitions and Examples:

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Detailed Planning Expenditures

Here’s an example within the Salaries and Benefits budget category sub-tab: ***Don’t forget to save frequently.

Note that Allocation will be $0 until you are awarded funding.

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Detailed Planning Expenditures

After entering a budget in each Budget Category sub-tab relevant to your project plan, you can view the budget summary (read-only).

• This section is optional for the initial application.
• You may use this for additional attachments.
• If OSSE requests additional documentation, you would use this section.
• Give a brief overview of each file you upload.
• ***Once you upload, it can’t be deleted. (You can explain if there’s an upload error.)

Supporting Documentation

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• You must check the Program Specific Assurances checkbox.

Assurances

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Assurances

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• Before submitting the program-specific assurances for this grant, all applicants must have

completed the Central Data Assurances for all OSSE grants for the fiscal year.

• Note that Central Data Assurances are found as a separate application within the EGMS

homepage.

Submit

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• You must hit Consistency Check to see if all parts are complete. Missing elements are in red.
• Then, lock the application and submit.

• When in doubt, contact the EGMS help center. (Note: a

record of contact with EGMS will not excuse missing the application submission deadline.)

• Save early and often – EGMS times out and kicks users out of

the system after 60 minutes of inactivity.

• Narrative responses may not exceed the stated word count.

If you cut and paste from a Word document, double-check that final sentences/paragraphs are not cut off.

• EGMS does not handle special characters well. Contact

the EGMS help center if you think you are encountering this problem.

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EGMS Considerations

Complete the Intent to Apply form and email it to Jonathan.Elkin@dc.gov by Wednesday, July 12 at 5 p.m. Submit the application electronically via the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. **OSSE will not accept applications submitted after 3 p.m. Be sure to start your application early. If you have technical questions about the application, contact: EGMS Help

• sse.callcenter@dc.gov

(202) 719-6500

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Next Steps

Q&A

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GET SOCIAL

facebook.com/ossedc twitter.com/ossedc youtube.com/DCEducation https://osse.dc.gov/page/specia l-education-enhancement-fund- seef-competitive-grant

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Contact Information

FIND US

ADDRESS:

810 First St. NE Washington, DC 20002

Contact for Special Education Enhancement Fund

Jonathan Elkin Jonathan.Elkin@dc.gov (202) 481-3875